How do you solve a problem like Dr. Strange? [Douglas Wolk at The Savage Critics]
And how New Avengers: Illuminati #4 exemplifies "the Strange problem" (no point without surreal-spendorific art; undefined mystical powers in a physical world).

Braindump: Doctor Strange in World War Hulk #3

Doc an active part of a large Marvel Universe event [+1]. Given that he's usually absent (Neilalien's still upset about Secret Wars)- even from very mystical events or other no-brainers for Doc's involvement (e.g., Doc and Hulk's long history and friendship)- and despite Neilalien's aversion to these big crossovers (that WWH issue checklist has more editorially-controlled momentum- and accessibility-nukers than Infinity War)- it's good to see. And Doc's not even a deus ex machina so far, either!

Doc got into Hulk's head [+1]. The manifestation of the spell in #2 sucked: Doc "needed to be let in" by the target for the spell to work, which rendered it a useless spell against enemies. And to fight the spell off, all Hulk did was jump in a river. #3 is better- the ferocious attack by General Ross weakens/distracts Hulk so Doc can force his way in.

Doc inside Hulk's head [+1]. Bad cop ("mortal flame!")/good cop. Doc is more effective than anyone else so far- he achieves a mental transformation into Banner. The Caiera vision is something Doc can uniquely do (surely Professor X too), which is good. And then Doc doesn't kill Banner- he's heroic, he's a friend. Maybe it comes off as a little namby-pamby parent-child- would prefer more Zen detachment or tough love from Doc. But Doc doesn't apologize for the banishment- nor should he. Doctor Strange has banished the Hulk from Earth before. Barring a cure, which will never be as long as the Hulk sells Underoos, or killing the Hulk, ditto, and Doc would and should never do that- banishment is the only option- and as Doc says in #2, it's an increasingly bad option- Hulk will just keep coming back angrier. Doc should be unapologetic about banishment. It's a standard mystic punishment (along with mindwipes). How many times has the Hulk said he just wanted to be left alone anyway? It's the safest thing for the Hulk, and for the Earth. Neat Freddie-Krueger "what happens inside happens outside" psychic thing with the hands, although Doc's pseudo-deastralization inside Hulk's mind feels like an unclear extra step. Maybe better to simply keep Doc in one "hittable" form throughout, floating out of reach until Banner needs the hug- then crunch.

Hiroim [0]. "Baldy McPonytail" made Neilalien laugh. Hiroim competently takes down Doc's Sanctum illusion, which is fine. An even zero here because Neilalien would have preferred to see a mystical battle between Doc and Hiroim instead of one more page of Hulk smashing tanks and helicopters. Hiroim might make a good rogues gallery addition for Doc. Iron Fist comes off too poorly in the battle- his main power does nothing to Hiroim, and then he's out. Getting hit in the forearm with the Fist doesn't even prevent Hiroim from casting a spell later, the way Doc's broken hands prevent him.

Doc scared and powerless [-0.5]. Doctor Strange definitely looks panicked in a couple panels. Eh. Unless it's early in Doc's career, and Stan Lee is writing the dramatic internal monologue of desperation against a god-like foe, Doc shouldn't be rattled. No one else is shown to shit a brick (granted, few get the chance). But this doesn't receive a full -1 affront to Neilalien because (a) while broken hands shouldn't take out a Sorcerer Supreme (it kinda never prevented him from becoming one, eh?) (perhaps a quick healing or teleport spell that every mystic knows for exactly such a critical emergency as losing the use of one's hands), taking out the hands somehow, binding, etc., is a standard way of controlling a mystic's power, and Doc's power needs to be non-omnipotent, and (b) Neilalien could be convinced that Doc's shaken because the broken hands hit a deep internal psychological button, reminding of the original car accident.

Ingesting the Zomling [+2]. After the initial shock and awesomeness, Neilalien thought immediately of accessibility. Not that this book is meant to be accessible to anyone beyond 30-something Marvel Zombies- but most 30-something Marvel Zombies don't even know who Zom is. The server hosting the Zom page at the Marvel Universe Appendix must be humming. Essentially, Zom is a mystical (he absorbs magic, so it can't be used against him) demonic doomsday MacGuffin from the old post-Ditko Strange Tales run, whose prison was an Eternity-created amphora. He partially came back again in Sorcerer Supreme #20 as a little Zomling, a piece of the essence of Zom still attached to the amphora, which is now one of Doc's many knick-knacks. So basically, Doc's solution when the Hulk hits the fan is to gulp down the essence of an evil creature so powerful that only Eternity or the Living Tribunal have been shown able to deal with it. Didn't see that coming. Wow. Can't be the smartest thing- Zom's supposed to be much worse than the Hulk. But what a great gift for old-school Doc fans. We even get a rhyming incantation. Neilalien loves it! It's comics crazy like Lois Lane in a race-changing machine.

Zomtor Strange beats Hiroim [+0.5]. Finally some ass-kicking competence- but not a full +1 because it's off-panel. The off-panel trick has been used for a Doc victory so many more times than for other heroes.

Plus: General Ross's monologue about the Hulk's constant oscillation between monster of destruction and forgiven pardoned "bleeding-heart"-excused hero is great.

Plus: Madison Square Garden is the new gladiator arena. You just have to love that the Marvel Universe is set in New York City. Much better than any Gotham City Convention Center.

Minus: Don't give a darn about Sentry. Barely know who he is. If he is the Hulk's defeater/ally/story linchpin: big letdown. Neilalien's rooting for Marvel to finally create a new iconic character since- when? Wolverine? Punisher? The 01970's?- that both new kids and old fanboys could get into. For Neilalien, Sentry ain't the guy.

So with the new math, Neilalien says that World War Hulk #3 is a very good Dr. Strange appearance. And not one boring Doc energy blast, either. Pak gets props, pending Parts 4 and 5.

Overall, World War Hulk is better than House of M or Civil War (high praise, indeed!). It's a better forum for hero-infighting than Civil War was. A bit too much mindless Hulk Smash repetition that made Neilalien a fan of superheroes with more diverse and interesting powers like Doctor Strange- smashing is what Hulk does- the heroes/his enemies are also only doing physical frontal assualts (and old-kung-fu-movie one-at-a-time-itis too). But it's palatable with Romita Jr. and Klaus All-Class Janson doing the fight choreography. Neilalien's interested to see how Hulk defeats Doc-Zom (as he surely will), and how it all ends (time for a Judas, or Rick Jones, or a Hulk persona change, or something?).

Oh baby... Looks like a decent haul for Doctor Strange fans out today! Didn't see that last page of World War Hulk #3 coming [synopsis at Wizard(thanks Joe!)]... And The Marvel Tarot is full of beautiful designs and interesting info. And New Avengers: Illuminati #4.

Doctor Strange is a fictional character who appears in, and is wholly owned by, Marvel Comics.
This site is not official nor affiliated with Marvel Comics.
This site is for academic and personal use.
Images of Doctor Strange and other characters are owned by their respective owners, and are used via fair use out of love without permission.
This site has no intention of diluting, risking or exploiting anyone's ownership or the money-making ability of their own properties, trademarks, and copyrights.
It is this site's sincere hope that the owners, especially Marvel Comics, are rational people who "get" the internet and fandom,
and can perceive this site as a free generator of positive promotion and interest, even when this site might be critical of how they are using their properties, or place their properties in humorous, satiric, parodic or ironic situations.